Choeganggeum Tonkatsu 최강금 돈까스

There are just 13 counter seats in this half-basement room near Exit 8 of Hapjeong Station, and the cutlets are breaded and fried right in front of you. Weekday waits run long with so few seats, and both Catch Table and Tableling take advance registration. With a thin coating, the pork's own nutty flavor matters more than crunch, and salt shows it best. Tea, rice, dried radish-leaf doenjang soup and pickles arrive first, followed by cabbage salad with bokbunja (Korean black raspberry) dressing and fruit to finish. The dry curry side is thick and spicy and goes over the rice, and extra slices of bread let you build a katsu sandwich with leftover cutlet and cabbage.